Current Cancer Screening Programs: Which Tests Enable Early Diagnosis of Which Cancers?

When cancer is discussed, the focus is usually treatment . But two other issues matter at least as much, and even more: cancer prevention and early diagnosis!

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We value prevention and early diagnosis and explain healthy living and cancer prevention recommendations in many articles. In summary, prevention includes:

• Avoiding tobacco 
• Being physically active
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and grains but low in saturated fat
• Limiting alcohol
• Protection against sexually transmitted infections 
• Avoiding excessive sun exposure 
• For breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers, regular screening .

The Ministry of Health’s extensive efforts through KETEM centers make regular early-detection screening available in every province. Screening includes the practices detailed in the table below, intended to detect cancer before symptoms arise. Early detection can enable complete recovery and/or disease control with less harmful medications or procedures.

Why do we screen only for certain cancers?

Screening is used when potential benefits outweigh risks. For example, removing a polyp by colonoscopy before it becomes cancerous, or identifying early breast cancer on routine annual mammography, can save lives. Accepted screening tests must detect cancer effectively, be easy to perform, accessible and cost-effective. Unfortunately, tests meeting all these criteria do not exist for every cancer. Available screening nevertheless offers substantial benefits. Risks may include anxiety, pain and other side effects.

The opening table presents scientifically proven cancer screening tests from the American Cancer Society’s 2018 update. It explains which tests to have, when and how often. The higher individual cancer risk from age, family history or other factors, the greater screening’s benefits.